Cuomo moves from three to four casinos in upstate

Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed today that he will allow up to four casinos upstate as part of the first round of bidding for the resorts. He initially proposed three upstate casinos.

Lawmakers said earlier this week that Cuomo indicated he would move from three to four casinos upstate. The change is seen as a likely nod to the Catskills, where there is already three major proposals for the once-booming area for New York City tourists.

Cuomo is expected to only allow up to two casinos in each of the three regions now designated for upstate casinos: the Albany area, the Catskills and the Southern Tier.

Cuomo is proposing to change the state constitution to allow for up to seven casinos in the state. The first four would have two years to build and five years of exclusivity.

So the final three would go forward after seven years—likely in the New York City area.

But Cuomo said seven years is a long time.

“I don’t know that you know where you would put the other three,” Cuomo said on “The Capitol Pressroom.” “We don’t say whether the other three would be.”